BI1FB2: Fundamentals of Biochemistry

Module code: BI1FB2

Module provider: School of Biological Sciences

Credits: 20

Level: Level 1 (Certificate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Alice Pollitt, email: a.pollitt@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Dr Craig Hughes, email: c.e.hughes@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

Biochemical processes are the basis for all life, from energy release to the formation and breakdown of the building blocks that make up living organisms.  These cellular metabolic processes are highly controlled and coordinated by enzymes.  This module will explore the fundamental principles that underpin metabolism and how these are studied in the laboratory.

This module will equip you with an understanding of key biochemical concepts such as enzyme kinetics, metabolic pathways (carbohydrate, protein and lipids), metabolic regulation, and pathological metabolism (including inherited metabolic diseases).  During hands-on practical sessions you will learn to apply, analyse and interpret key biochemical experimental methods, including ELISA, chromatography, spectrophotometry, protein purification and Western blotting. You will have the opportunity to plan and perform your own experiments as preparation for a three-day research project where you will purify a protein from a bacterial lysate and will determine its activity.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Describe how enzymes regulate metabolic pathways
2. Apply enzyme kinetics to evaluate enzyme activities and their regulation
3. Describe key biochemical methods and their application in the laboratory
4. Record, analyse and interpret experimental data
5. Present and describe experimental results and critically analyse experiments

Module content

This module provides a fundamental understanding of metabolic processes common in cellular organisms. This includes:

• Enzyme kinetics, enzyme catalysis and inhibition and the fundamental principles of enzymatic pathways.
• How enzyme kinetics are used to evaluate enzyme activities and their regulation.
• Fundamentals of anabolic and catabolic biochemical metabolic pathways, such as glucose, fatty acid and amino acid metabolism.
• How biochemical pathways interact.
• The principles and application of practical biochemistry methods such as ELISA, chromatography, spectrophotometry, protein purification and western blotting
• Application of good laboratory practice 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The learning outcomes will be met through a mixture of lectures, group work, laboratory-based practical classes, self-directed learning and directed independent study. Appropriate supplementary information and reading lists will be provided on Blackboard.

Study hours

At least 54 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

A formative Blackboard assessment will available after each practical. These assessments will help review your understanding of key concepts from the practical.

Reassessment

Additional costs